Paisley Lays Claim To "Positive And Enduring" Legacy

"The legacy which I leave will prove to be a positive and enduring one for those who follow on behind."

That was the message from First Minister Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley MP, MLA as he spoke to an audience of local business people at the CBI annual dinner last week.

Dr Paisley said: "As I leave my post as First Minister I depart knowing that in my heart Ulster is not facing further years in the economic wilderness; it is not making daily newspaper headlines across the world and its communities are not ridden with fear, anxiety and suspicion.

"Four decades on we now have a bright light pointing the clear way ahead. I believe I have played my part in bringing that brightness back and that light to the road that all of us must travel."

Dr Paisley added: "Through out my life my one driving force has been to deliver a peaceful prosperous society for the people of Northern Ireland.

"In the past twelve months we have built the foundations, developed the strategies and agreed the plans to achieve this vision.

"We must now turn our focus to delivery. Vision without delivery is nothing more than a daydream.

"Our new keyword must be action, Northern Ireland is ready for action.

"We have set ourselves ambitious targets, targets designed to increase the volume of high value jobs, and to increase productivity and international trade.

"Our programs will support the business community and encourage the growth of the Private Sector.

"Local and foreign owned businesses will develop and fully utilize the skills of our well educated workforce. "Northern Ireland will once again become a world leader.

"The Investment Conference in May will put Northern Ireland firmly on the agenda for US investors.

"It will be a key landmark on the road towards our development as a key competitor on the world stage.

"We will deliver a modern dynamic economy which attracts increasing numbers of overseas investors and where our young people have the jobs and the career opportunities which allow them to stay."

In his speech the First Minister also outlined how the £20billion investment strategy will create the physical infrastructure required in a twenty first century Northern Ireland.

"This unprecedented program has already begun the delivery process with a number of major schemes already in procurement.

"Up to £6billion of projects will be delivered in the coming three years alone including a major expansion of our strategic roads network, major investment in our education system and regeneration schemes that will continue the transformation of our cities.

"There is hard work ahead. But with a locally elected government, working closely with our business community, the legacy of the last twelve months will I have no doubt be the deliverance of a peaceful prosperous society."